TEARFUL councillors have paid tribute to Sandbach Town Council chairman John Keeling who died just days before a civic dinner and charity ball in his honour.

Respected community leader Mr Keeling lost his battle against cancer aged 73, last Wednesday.

Devastated family and friends insisted the town council chairman's civic occasion go-ahead in his honour, in order to raise cash for his favourite charities.

Tributes poured in from more than 160 people who attended the event at Sandbach Town Hall on Saturday.

Mr Keeling's funeral will be held at St Mary's Church Sandbach tomorrow (Thursday).

Town clerk Bruce Thompson said: 'The occasion was tinged with great sadness. John was one of the best. There was great deliberation of whether to go ahead with the ball, but we did so with the blessing of his family.

'He had worked very hard to organise the event and many aspects of the arrangements were his decision. This was to be the highlight of his year as chairman and he wanted to raise money for his chosen charities - organisations for youngsters and the disabled.

'He was at Leighton Hospital when he died, but before that he knew he would miss the occasion and was still keen for it to go ahead. In fact, I was told he was holding on to see how it went and how much cash was raised. That was the kind of man he was.'

Sandbach's MP Ann Winterton, Congleton Borough mayor Doug Parker, and Alsager Town Council chairman Doris Burgess were among the guests on Saturday.

Master of ceremonies was town crier Dennis Robinson, and the Rev David Page led prayers for the deceased chairman and his family, wife Cindy and children Jonathan and Linda.

Mr Keeling was born in Caverswall into the family which ran the Keeling Bus Company in Stoke in the 1930s and 40s. As a young man he served in the premier Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army, the Black Watch.

On leaving the Army he joined the prison service and worked in a number of institutions, rising through the ranks to a senior level. The outstanding service he gave earned him the British Empire Medal.

Mr Keeling, a keen Mason, was a member of Congleton Borough Council in the 1980s and the town council in the 80s.

He took a 10-year break from politics before returning to the town council as chairman last year.

A talented local historian who gave lectures in the town, Mr Keeling was a keen golfer, cook and member of the Probus Club.

Close friend Ken Beresford, a former borough and town councillor, said: 'When I think of John I think of his dignified manner and his immaculate appearance.

'He was a very forthright man with down-to-earth political opinions and a great sense of humour. I am very upset and will miss him deeply. He was a fine man who, I feel, always wanted to be chairman of Sandbach Town Council.'

Cllr Roy Sutton, also a close friend, said: 'We had a great friendship that lasted 20 years. He was a well-respected man and it is a great loss.'

Following Mr Keeling's funeral at 11am tomorrow, commital will be held at Crewe Crematorium. A reception will be held at the Masonic Hall, The Commons, at 12.30pm.